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Song Name: Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA

Artist: DEVO

Appears On:

Live in Central Park, Live at the Observatory, Santa Ana, CA

Year Written: 1974 (Smart Patrol)/1977 (Mr. DNA)

Smart Patrol Performed (without Mr. DNA) 1975,[1] (?also 1976?),

Medly Performed: [2] 1977-1982, 1989-present setlist.fm stats

Run Time: 6:02 (Album Version)

Writing Credits:

"Smart Patrol": Gerald V. Casale
"Mr. DNA": Gerald V. Casale/Mark Mothersbaugh

Sung By: Mark Mothersbaugh, Gerald V. Casale, Bob Mothersbaugh (co-lead) Bob Casale (backing)

Alternate Versions: Sometimes Smart Patrol is played without the segue to Mr. DNA

Demo Versions: Smart Patrol (Version 1), Smart Patrol (Version 2) both are from 1974, v. 1 in May, v. 2 in October

Song Connections: The Death of Lt. Casanova (Features similar medley) 

Trivia / Info:[]

  • The origins of the "Smart Patrol" title can be found in a bootleg from 1974, where Jerry says to an audience member: "Alright. You're a smart prole. Nowhere to go."
The song was originally titled Smart Proletariats, and featured elements from another song played at the concert called "The Death of Lt. Casanova"
  • "Smart Patrol" was first performed in April 1975. Devo performed two sets before each showing of John Water's transgressive film "Pink Flamingos." [3]
    • Devo may also have included this in a November 1975 performance after a movie shown at the "Kiva" in the Kent State University Student Center. An 11/25/1975 Daily Kent Stater ad includes the words "DEVO" (twice) and "soupdujour" (sic). [4]
  • Early demos were recorded with the voices of the DEVO characters Booji Boy, Chinaman, and Clown.

Onstage Behavior:

  • Bob 1 plays the La Baye 2x4 (he calls it his "Mr. DNA" guitar).

Lyrics: Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA  - LyricWikia

He's been with the world
And I’m tired of the soup du jour
He's been with the world
I wanna end this prophylactic tour
Afraid nobody around here
Understands my potato
I think I’m only a Spudboy
Looking for a real tomato
We're the Smart Patrol
Nowhere to go
Suburban robots that monitor reality
Common stock
We work around the clock
We shove the poles in the holes


Wait a minute, something's wrong
He's the man from the past
He's here to do us a favor
A little human sacrifice
It's just supply and demand
Mr. Kamikaze
Mr. DNA
He's an altruistic pervert
Mr. DNA
Mr. Kamikaze
He's here to spread some genes
Wait a minute, something's wrong
He's a man with a plan
His finger is pointed at Devo
Now we must sacrifice ourselves
That many others may live
Okay we've got a lot to give
This monkey wants a word with you

References:

External Links:

MusicBrainz
AllMusic


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DEVO
Mark Mothersbaugh | Gerry Casale | Bob Mothersbaugh
Bob Lewis | Bob Casale | Jim Mothersbaugh | Alan Myers
David Kendrick | Josh Freese
Jeff Friedl | Josh Hager
Record Labels / Publishers
Booji Boy Records | Warner Brothers | Enigma | Devo, Inc. 
Stiff | Virgin | Rykodisk | Infinite Zero | Restless | Discovery | Rhino 
MVD Audio | The Orchard | Superior Viaduct | Futurismo
Production
Brian Eno | Ken Scott | Robert Margouleff | Roy Thomas Baker | DEVO 
The Teddybears | Greg Kurstin | Santi White | John King | John Hill | Mark Nishita 
Official Studio Albums
Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! (1978) | Duty Now For The Future (1979) | Freedom of Choice (1980) | New Traditionalists (1981) | oh, no! it's Devo (1982) | Shout (1984) | Total Devo (1988) | SmoothNoodleMaps (1990) | Something for Everybody   (2010)
Other Albums
Be Stiff EP (1978) | E-Z Listening Disc (1987) | Now It Can Be Told: DEVO at the Palace (1989) | Hardcore DEVO Vol. 1 74-77 (1990) | Hardcore DEVO Vol. 2 1974-1977 (1991) | DEVO Live: The Mongoloid Years (1992) | DEV-O Live (1999) | Recombo DNA (2000) | Live In Central Park (2004) | DEVO Live 1980 (2005) | New Traditionalists: Live 1981 Seattle (2012) | Something ELSE for Everybody  (2013) | Miracle Witness Hour  (2014) | Live at Max's Kansas City - November 15, 1977  (2014) | Butch Devo and the Sundance Gig  (2014) | Hardcore DEVO Live!  (2015) | Art Devo 1973-1977  (2023)
Filmography
In The Beginning Was The End: The Truth About De-Evolution (1976) | The Men Who Make The Music (1981) | Human Highway (1982) | We're All DEVO (1984) | The Complete Truth About De-Evolution (1993) | DEVO Live (2004) | DEVO Live In The Land Of The Rising Sun (2004) | DEVO Live 1980 (2005) | Butch Devo and the Sundance Gig  (2014) | Hardcore DEVO Live!  (2015)
Related Articles
History | Bootlegs | Booji Boy | Devolution | Influence | The Wipeouters | Jihad Jerry & The Evildoers | Devo 2.0 | Akron, Ohio | Kent, Ohio | Music Videos | Cover Versions | Outfits

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